Ironworkers remove huge cables suspended from the Left Coast Lifter floating crane after the final section of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge was lowered into place in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011. less

Ironworkers remove huge cables suspended from the Left Coast Lifter floating crane after the final section of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge was lowered into place in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, ... more

New foundation pillars wait for the demolition of the old bridge section, right, to be finished before they could be used to complete the new eastbound lanes of the new seismic safety span, Thursday Feb. 17, 2011. less

New foundation pillars wait for the demolition of the old bridge section, right, to be finished before they could be used to complete the new eastbound lanes of the new seismic safety span, Thursday Feb. 17, ... more

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

New foundation pillars wait for the demolition of the old bridge... Photo-2063589.64708 - GreenwichTime

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A cross section of a suspension cable shows the cables that will hold the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge will be made up of bundles of individual cables, shown on Thursday, August 16, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. less

A cross section of a suspension cable shows the cables that will hold the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge will be made up of bundles of individual cables, shown on Thursday, August 16, 2012, in Oakland, ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

A cross section of a suspension cable shows the cables that will... Photo-3338107.64708 - GreenwichTime

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Temporary supports head westward at the construction site of the new Bay Bridge Project on Monday June 14, 2010.

Temporary supports head westward at the construction site of the new Bay Bridge Project on Monday June 14, 2010.

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

Temporary supports head westward at the construction site of the... Photo-2321811.64708 - GreenwichTime

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Ironworkers lift the fourth section of new Bay Bridge tower into place.

Ironworkers lift the fourth section of new Bay Bridge tower into place.

New state of the art lights were tested on the Self-Anchored Suspension Span of the new Bay Bridge Thursday July 26, 2012. They offer a brighter light that the old Bay Bridge lights and are expected to last 10-15 years before they are replaced. less

New state of the art lights were tested on the Self-Anchored Suspension Span of the new Bay Bridge Thursday July 26, 2012. They offer a brighter light that the old Bay Bridge lights and are expected to last ... more

Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

New state of the art lights were tested on the Self-Anchored... Photo-3250531.64708 - GreenwichTime

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Ironworkers pull on a rope line after the final section of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge is lowered into place in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.

Ironworkers pull on a rope line after the final section of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge is lowered into place in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Ironworkers pull on a rope line after the final section of the new... Photo-1831873.64708 - GreenwichTime

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An ironworker works on the Bay Bridge Self-Anchored Suspension Span as a section of the tower for the new bridge is lowered into place at the construction site in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, February 28, 2011. less

An ironworker works on the Bay Bridge Self-Anchored Suspension Span as a section of the tower for the new bridge is lowered into place at the construction site in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, February 28, ... more

Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle

An ironworker works on the Bay Bridge Self-Anchored Suspension Span... Photo-2018389.64708 - GreenwichTime

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Crew men work to complete the compressing process of the suspension cable of the new Bay Bridge Monday, April 30, 2012. The compaction process shapes 137 strands of cable into one.

Crew men work to complete the compressing process of the suspension cable of the new Bay Bridge Monday, April 30, 2012. The compaction process shapes 137 strands of cable into one.

Photo: Erik Verduzco, The Chronicle

Crew men work to complete the compressing process of the suspension... Photo-2881540.64708 - GreenwichTime

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Workers continue the construction of Eastern section of the new Bay Bridge in Oakland, Calif., on Friday Nov. 2, 2012.

Workers continue the construction of Eastern section of the new Bay Bridge in Oakland, Calif., on Friday Nov. 2, 2012.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Workers continue the construction of Eastern section of the new Bay... Photo-3694492.64708 - GreenwichTime

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A section of the bike path that runs along the Southern edge of Eastern section of the new Bay Bridge waits to be completed, in Oakland, Calif., on Friday Nov. 2, 2012.

A section of the bike path that runs along the Southern edge of Eastern section of the new Bay Bridge waits to be completed, in Oakland, Calif., on Friday Nov. 2, 2012.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

A section of the bike path that runs along the Southern edge of... Photo-3694493.64708 - GreenwichTime

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A work crew tightens the pressure on suspension cables of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge on Thursday, August 16, 2012, in San Francisco, Calif., Crews on the new east span of the Bay Bridge were preparing to start "transfering the load" or lifting the suspension section of the new bridge onto the suspension cables and off of the temporary trestles that have supported it during construction. less

A work crew tightens the pressure on suspension cables of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge on Thursday, August 16, 2012, in San Francisco, Calif., Crews on the new east span of the Bay Bridge were ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

A work crew tightens the pressure on suspension cables of the new... Photo-3338105.64708 - GreenwichTime

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A section of the new Bay Bridge tower is hoisted into place.

A section of the new Bay Bridge tower is hoisted into place.

Photo: Adm Golub, The Chronicle

A section of the new Bay Bridge tower is hoisted into place. Photo-2396892.64708 - GreenwichTime

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A construction crew paves westbound lanes on the self-anchored suspension span of the new Bay Bridge with epoxy asphalt concrete in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, July 12, 2013. The road crew is spreading 8.4 million pounds of asphalt to pave two 1-inch-thick layers on both decks of the new span. less

A construction crew paves westbound lanes on the self-anchored suspension span of the new Bay Bridge with epoxy asphalt concrete in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, July 12, 2013. The road crew is spreading 8.4 ... more

A construction crew paves lanes on the self-anchored suspension span of the new Bay Bridge with epoxy asphalt concrete in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, July 12, 2013. The road crew is spreading 8.4 million pounds of asphalt to pave two 1-inch-thick layers on both decks of the new span. less

A construction crew paves lanes on the self-anchored suspension span of the new Bay Bridge with epoxy asphalt concrete in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, July 12, 2013. The road crew is spreading 8.4 million ... more

A bridge worker climbs the main cable above a paving crew on the self-anchored suspension span of the new Bay Bridge in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, July 12, 2013. The road crew is spreading 8.4 million pounds of epoxy asphalt concrete to pave two 1-inch-thick layers on both decks of the new span. less

A bridge worker climbs the main cable above a paving crew on the self-anchored suspension span of the new Bay Bridge in San Francisco, Calif. on Friday, July 12, 2013. The road crew is spreading 8.4 million ... more

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

A bridge worker climbs the main cable above a paving crew on the... Photo-4949451.64708 - GreenwichTime

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Crew men work to complete the compressing process of the suspension cable of the new Bay Bridge Monday, April 30, 2012.

Crew men work to complete the compressing process of the suspension cable of the new Bay Bridge Monday, April 30, 2012.

Photo: Erik Verduzco, The Chronicle

Crew men work to complete the compressing process of the suspension... Photo-2881539.64708 - GreenwichTime

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Workers can be seen lifting the 101- feet and 551- ton sections of the tower into place on the new Bay Bridge.

Workers can be seen lifting the 101- feet and 551- ton sections of the tower into place on the new Bay Bridge.

Photo: Kat Wade, Special To The Chronicle

Workers can be seen lifting the 101- feet and 551- ton sections of... Photo-2013845.64708 - GreenwichTime

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A section of the newly constructed eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is seen next to the existing bridge during a media tour of the self-anchored suspension span tower on August 29, 2011 in Oakland, California. less

A section of the newly constructed eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is seen next to the existing bridge during a media tour of the self-anchored suspension span tower on August 29, 2011 in ... more

Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

A section of the newly constructed eastern span of the San... Photo-1842233.64708 - GreenwichTime

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Ironworkers worked through stormy weather, putting in 106 hours to complete the third lift of the new Bay Bridge tower that tops off at 374 feet.

Ironworkers worked through stormy weather, putting in 106 hours to complete the third lift of the new Bay Bridge tower that tops off at 374 feet.